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There are two explicit research objectives or questions which

evolve from the general theme. The methodological objective is to develop an appropriate and effective exploratory approach for conducting research on emergent congressional-constituent communication systems.

And the substantive question asks: Given the current communication system and clearly specified emergent telecommunication channels, what is the potential future role for such emergent channels in the congressionalconstituent communication process from the perspective of the congressman? mary22 in Chapter II of the substantive research results. Chapter III reviews the implications of the research and summarizes the conclusions. Appendix A summarizes the methodological results. And Appendix B outlines a "representative time" approach to telecommunication access allocation.

This report presents a summary

22The 374 page research manuscript on which this summary report was based is available as Frederick Bruce Wood, Telecommunications Technology for Congress: An Exploratory Assessment of Its Potential for CongressionalConstituent Communication (Ann Arbor, Mich. : University Microfilms, 1974), a doctoral dissertation in management science and public administration completed at The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

II. SUMMARY OF SUBSTANTIVE RESEARCH RESULTS

This chapter includes an overview of the current state of the congressional-constituent communication system, describes the emergent telecommunication channels, and summarizes an assessment of the potential role for emergent channels as perceived by congressmen and staff. The overview and assessment are based on survey interview data from a stratified judgment sample comprised of 40 House offices, and therefore must be considered tentative and exploratory, as is explained in the methodological appendix.

A. Current State of the Communication Process

1. Face-to-face channels. Analysis of the interview data identified the communication channels perceived by senior congressional staff as currently important for the congressional-constituent communication process. These channels are listed in Figure One in rank order of relative importance.

Face-to-face contact in the district is perhaps the most important constituent communication channel for members of Congress. The face-to-face personal conversation, small group meeting, and large group meeting--when conducted in the district--rank first, second, and third respectively in overall relative importance. In sharp contrast, face-to-face contact in Washington is

ranked much lower.

The relative importance of direct district contact reflects the fact that most constituents rarely, if ever, travel to Washington, and so the congressmen must visit them during periodic trips to the district. Also, most members maintain district offices and staff whose primary functions include

Source: Interviews with 40 congressional offices.

Key: N and % = number and percent of congressional offices in the sample perceiving a channel as very important or important; R = relative rank of a channel among the 21 channels perceived as very important and the 29 channels perceived as important.

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keeping in close and continuous contact with constituents while the congressman is in Washington.

Depending on the district's distance from Washington, the average

number of trips back to the district per month ranges from one or two for

most Western States congressmen to four or more for many members from the Northeast. Members from the South, Great Lakes, and Central States regions usually make two or three trips per month. Regional norms seem to hold fairly well, except that some high seniority and politically secure members do return to the district less frequently, especially if they have heavy committee or leadership responsibilities.

And on the other hand, congressmen from politically

marginal districts are likely to visit the district somewhat more often than

average.

When in the district, the pace and distribution of activity varies widely. Congressmen from active urban districts are likely to be on the go continuously with a tight schedule which might include meetings with community leaders and local government officials, public appearances at schools and business clubs, and visits with the local media representatives.

In rural and

mixed districts where the population is more widely dispersed, congressmen generally spend more time moving around the district from town to town, talking with people on the street, and holding public office hours.

2.

Written or print channels. The personal letter via Washington is clearly the congressman's most important written channel of constituent communication and ranks fourth among all channels. Of somewhat less but still significant perceived importance are the report or newsletter which ranks tenth and the survey or questionnaire which ranks eleventh. Most congressmen receive several hundred letters a week from constituents, and a major problem is the